huzzah

The sale is a rumor until the Post says it is for sale. "Strategic alternatives" leaves the door open. The WSJ articles are better than what they have been replaced with. What can make the Post distinctive from news via the internet is coverage of local sports. The Post, realizing this has kept the sports dept. at a top level. Therefore, to not cover the Bills or send a reporter to the Southern Miss game is not good for them and violates their own corporate strategy. Stu would fly to the game free on the school plane, so the Post could have covered this game for less than $600. Insignificant in terms of their total expenses. The article today in the Post gives some arguments on why Gannet(USA Today) is not a slam dunk on becoming the new owner, if the paper is sold. Judging from the Indianapolis and Honolulu papers I hope USA Today(Gannet) does not acquire ownership. Stu represents a fixed cost, so he could have written a game day article of the Southern Miss game @ minimal cost. However, the Post has not covered home town stories on business topics well either, so we share neglect w/ others. The Post raised their dividend, but in other areas seem to be tightening up.

Rumour is the Post is up for sale. They did not send Stu down to Southern Miss. However, they are not only cutting back on Bill's coverage, but also in other areas. The Sunday Business section is a shadow of what it was. Articles from the Wall Street Journal have been eliminated with the promotion of a "Revamped Sunday Business Section". The WSJ articles have been replaced w/ fluff. USA Today is the buyer mentioned, but time will tell. However, we may wish to save our gun powder until we see the whites of the eyes of the new buyer. The Post also seems to be deficient in covering the May Dept store story and the Edward Jones story. Therefore, considering everything, it don't seem we are being picked on. These are all recent developments and none of it looks good. At least they haven't cut the Horror Scope out.

I think Brad is doing a good job considering the timing and conditions surrounding his hire. As you recall Romar left and his two prize recruits did not show up. One was academically not eligible and the other opted for UCLA. In addition Pulley had to go Juco and another player, homesick for the west, transferred to Montana. By the time Brad took the job the recruiting season was over. He had to take what was left. The prospects of getting top line recruits at this late stage was remote. At the time, as I recall, the consensus on the board was that we would entertain some lean years. This is what is happening. However, Coach has made some inroads in the St. Louis area, both sides of the river, and has recruited Vashon. This recruiting locally was what Romar tended to overlook. Judging from the success of Illinois State and SIU, there is some talent here. I think Brad's recruiting looks good and the future success of the Bills has potential. Brad is on solid ground. His job appears much more secure than Snyder's. After Brad's recuits, that is the ones recruited on a timely basis, and not at the last minute, are here into their junior and senior years, we can make a more accurate judgement of the Coaches recruiting and coaching ability.

Thanks for the reply. I enjoyed reading it.

Just out of curiosity can you give us some idea about the talent level coming out of Seattle. I think I recall North Carolina picking up a player and UCLA two players from the Seattle area. Romar is achieving greater success, it seems, in your area, than here. For the moment two strong teams are present and Washington State(3-3) may be competitive, not withstanding the OK State blow out. I am curious on how Romar turned Washington around. Any comments.

Newsweek has an article on this subject which may interest some because local players have went this route and because of the impact on the college game. Article is at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032542/site/newsweek/

The reasons Spoon left include attendance at UNLV games down 70% of student body did not know who Spoon was player revolt no NCAA appearances new AD Spoon may or may not have health problems, but this was used as a cover for the other reasons. I will be suprised if he shows up to take Queens place.

For RPI clarification go to:http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2062820

In regard to us chasing Marquette, Brad, on the radio, indicated his displeasure w/ C-USA allowing Marquette to buy out a road game @ Southern Miss. This game will be played at Green Bay rather than Haitsburg, so Marquette ends up 9-7 in league competions @ home,and Sourthern Miss will be 7-9. Brad's beef w/ the league is they are suppose to create a "level" playing field and this sort of thing should never happen. The arrangement was consumated in secret, apparantly to avoid a clamour of opposing views. While Marquette appears good, as Roy states, it also appears they are being helped by the league(officiating at Milwaukee) and the above scheduling, to enhance their ranking and league prestige.

At this point RPI's are irrelevant. My point is everyone schedules soft.

Arizona has scheduled Northern Arizona, St. Marys, Libery, San Diego State and the winner between Louisiana/Lafayette and Valparaiso. This does not seem dramatically different to what SLU did. Welcome back???

These two most likely will not play in the tournament because the Tigers, in a self imposed penalty, will ban the team from post season play.

This story is now national. Check ESPN. For a local version check the Columbia Tribune. My guess is the president of the school and the assistant AD are gone. Snyder is also gone. Mizzou will have to self impose penalties and clean house. Snyder could end up out west, in the area of Pat Kennedy, away from media attention; that is; follow the example of Bob Knight. Pauling and Johnson, most likely, will not play in the tournament their senior year.

About a month ago the Columbia Tribune interviewed a law professor from Drake. He said the NCAA does not investigate unless something is going on. He thought Mizzou's best course was to self impose penalties, to lighten NCAA sanctions. My guess is Mizzou ends up on some type of probation, Snyder winds up out west, in approximately the same area as the DePaul coach, Pat Kennedy, and some of the commitments by recruits cancel out. Also keep in mind the FBI is investigating separate from the NCAA. Iron's shot will be muted by the shot the NCAA is going to take.

As I read this article SLU would be better off in the MVC because it would be a power there, thus assured of post season play, and second, being in the MVC will aid recruiting because competition is midwest where the conference schools are. First, will are not locks to be a power. Recruiting will fall off and we will slip to the level of the competition we play. Second, recruiting will not be helped. How many players have we recruited from Witchita, or Springfield,MO., or Carbondale, or DeMoines, or Omaha, or Evansville or Cedar Falls, or Bloomington-Normal? This is a poorly written article because it is not substantiated by good logic. We are too big for the MVC. Over the past 5 years our attendance has averaged in the top 30, or over the 90th percentile. We are in a top 20 media market and we will have a new on campus arena shortly. SLU is a very attractive option for a conference, in fact too attractive for the MVC. Burwell insists that the SLU decision makers will be guided in their choice solely by money. Since when is money a sin? Perhaps Bryan may wish to go to the Post and agree to work the next several months for free, or is writing all about money?

Dave, is Louisville a northern city?